Art Major Overview

The Art department strives to transform students’ hearts, minds, and lives by developing an awareness and knowledge of art history, and offering instruction on how an artist works and thinks in producing a work of art. This instruction along with personal interaction provides a quality educational program for students taking classes in the visual arts.

The Art and Design Department is housed in the Donald and Maria Cox Visual Arts Building which opened in the fall of 2000. This new art complex tripled our studio space and is a delightful environment to create art. With East River Mountain as our stage, the Cox Building is a diamond on our already beautiful campus.

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Art Major Opportunities

Art majors have the opportunity to teach in our Fine Arts Community School, which provides classes for local children and adults. We also have Art life at Bluefield College, which includes a variety of activities. Opportunities for students include visiting artist workshops, field trips to area museums and galleries (including Washington D.C.), and an Art Club for camaraderie among majors and minors. Students also exhibit their work in Lansdell Hall each semester, and art majors help design several on-campus publications including our web page. We also have available several Art Scholarships each year so be sure and inquire about these.

Art Major Outcomes

The Art and Design Department teaches students how to recognize global artworks and styles from the past to the present, and teaches the student an art vocabulary necessary for critical evaluation.

Career Opportunities

Architect

Art Director

Graphic Designer

Product Designer

Interior Designer

Web Designer

Advertising

Art Teacher

Art Dealer

Art Consultant

Desktop Publishing

Freelance Artist

Fine Art Photography

Fashion Illustration

Illustrator

Museum Director

Art Therapy

Positions Held by Alumni

Washington County School System, Art Teacher

Tazewell County School System, Art Teacher

Lamar Advertising, Art Director

Middle Georgia College, Associate Professor of Art

Freelance Artist, Owner

All Nippon Airways, Accessories Shop Retail

Graduate Schools Attended

Radford University (Art)

University of Memphis (Art)

Savannah School of Art and Design (Film)

Marshall University (Mental Health Counseling)

Florence Academy of Art (Art)

Clubs and Organizations

The Art Club at Bluefield College meets once a week and provides many opportunities for art students to further develop their art. Also, every two years our students take a field trip to Washington D.C. Outstanding Bluefield College art majors are members of the Kappa Pi International Art Fraternity – Chapter Eta Zeta

Contact Information

Walter Shroyer

Professor of Art; Chair, Department of Art and Design

(276) 326.4558

Jessica Looney

Class of 2013

"I would highly encourage any prospective Fine Arts major to look into the Bluefield College Art Program. The department consists of teachers who not only know what they are teaching; they are passionate and skilled artists themselves. They also continually encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and grow. Not many schools can offer this exceptional kind of learning environment. I am thankful to have been able to be a part of this program."